Navigating design aesthetics for an older audience

LinkedIn recently broached the subject of the most common design mistakes when creating products for older people in an AI-generated article. It listed six answers from an AI search result, highlighting that designers often overlook accessibility requirements while ignoring feedback when creating products.  

Now, the article itself poses an interesting question for the aged care sector; is the industry immune to making the same mistakes as outsiders? To answer this, let’s look at those common mistakes in more detail.

1. Ignoring user research

Many products are not designed for older people, and so, user experience (UX) research traditionally ignores their needs. This is partly why older people may struggle with new technologies; younger people have grown accustomed to consistent change while older generations may still prefer to favour longevity and stability over something new and trendy.

This is why you have to understand the people you’re designing for, otherwise, you may have irrelevant or inappropriate products. But is the aged care sector at fault for not understanding its consumers?

UX research and product trials are common as service providers work together with companies and universities to investigate how effective and relevant products are. In fact, it’s rare for a new product to enter the aged care industry without research or investigation. Service providers must continue to invest in user research, otherwise, you may find yourself implementing services and products that are not beneficial to residents and clients. 

2. Overlooking accessibility

Accessibility becomes more important as we age and there’s an ongoing requirement for products designed specifically to support older people more directly as they address unmet needs. This is why the aged care industry is such a distinct industry: organisations designing products for this demographic understand the unmet needs of their audience.

“Addressing unmet needs means to focus on key features that are not met by competitors and [are] relevant to the customer. It’s important to mention that this is not only limited to concrete product features but has much wider implications with respect to accessibility” Julia Kinner, CEO of marketing strategy consulting firm JK & Associates, explained.

Those within the aged care industry would rarely overlook accessibility requirements. However, it’s always possible for an outsider to come in and miss the mark if they’re branching out of their traditional target audience. Yet, more often than not, a product that’s designed to be accessible from day one is going to the majority, said Arbitrary Solutions product designer Munal Sohail.

“…Design for the 20% and your product becomes inherently accessible to a broader audience, including the 80% who might have varying degrees of abilities and disabilities. It’s a strategy that not only results in better design but also demonstrates empathy and inclusivity in your approach,” he said.

3. Neglecting aesthetics

Aesthetics and accessibility are closely linked together, yet accessibility can often come at the expense of visually pleasing design. For example, conversations surrounding texture-modified foods are a sign of how aesthetics have been neglected in the past but the sector is now exploring how texture-modified food can look better. 

Other common design mistakes that are often overlooked in products used by older people are:

• Text, icons and fonts that are easy to read on all products or surfaces for people with vision impairment 
• Easily accessible interfaces that can be used by older people, their carers and aged care staff
• Contrasting colours/textures that make it easier to distinguish separate elements
• Poorly designed controls and buttons that cannot be easily used by someone with mobility impairments or health conditions such as arthritis
• Technology-based programs with no in-built accessibility options for people with hearing and/or visual impairments

4. Forgetting context

It’s important to recognise how a product will fit into someone’s life plus the physical and social aspects of their environment. Consider medical emergency alarms designed to be worn around the neck. What happens if a client has a fall at home but forgets to put on the pendant or bracelet?

This is where aged care innovators recognise the importance of supporting ageing people during their best and worst days. Organisations such as HomeGuardian have designed artificial intelligence-based sensors that can detect a fall and alert relevant carers or family members. There’s an understanding that a daily routine can change, people might forget something, but they’re still protected by a product designed just for them.

5. Lacking empathy

Web developer and designer Sam V, who commented on the original LinkedIn article, said “When we lack empathy our design loses purpose”. And in many ways, the intentions may be there but empathy may not. Products designed to support ageing people are intrinsically linked to empathy. There needs to be meaning and understanding that they are there to help, not just as a fad or temporary item. 

6. Avoiding feedback

The last mistake identified by LinkedIn was ‘avoiding feedback’. So, how well do you use feedback to strengthen your services or products? Aged care providers and innovators must listen and collaborate with the people they’re supporting. Otherwise, you cannot successfully design and deliver products and services suited to a growing cohort of consumers. 

The mistakes listed above may or may not be applicable to your services. Regardless, it’s always worth reflecting on your own approach to supporting ageing people and their needs. Whether it’s listening to and acting on feedback for existing services, or researching how a new product may help, you should always understand what your consumers need.